Fencing game



Jan. 13, 1959 P. MEG 2,868,542

FENCING GAME Filed'May 28. 1954 JNVEIYTOR. PETER P7156 dice Patented Jan. 13, was

FENCING GAME Peter Mieg, Schwenningen am Neckar, Germany Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,163 Claims priority, application Germany June 15, 1953 12 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) The present invention relates to game devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fencing game using weapons such as foils, sabers or similar weapons.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game device of the above type by which the skill of the contestants can be tested without risk of injury to them.

it is another object of the present invention to provide a game device of the above type which is simple in construction, which is safe to use, and which provides for an interesting contest.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a fencing device of the above type by means of which scoring can be accurately determined.

With the above objects in view, the present invention relates to a game device which comprises the combination of an elongated member having a handle portion at one end and an engaging portion at its otherend and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holding the same at its handle portion, a guard member mounted on the elongated member between its ends adjacent the handle portion and extending transverse thereto, and at least one target member mounted on the guard member movable relative thereto away from a predetermined position 1thereon, whereby the target member may be moved away. from the predetermined position upon being engaged by the engaging portion of another similar elongated :member manipulated by an opposing contestant to thereby indicate the accuracy of the strike by the latter contestant.

In accordance with the invention, the target member may be so mounted in the guard member that when struck by the weapon of the opposing contestant, it will be either entirely removed from the guard member or displaced in its position thereon.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section of the handle portion of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of part of the device shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line III-III;

Fig. 4.is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 3 taken from the side thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view of a different embodiment of a target element of the present invention;

Fig. 6 shows still another embodiment of the target element of the present invention;

Fig. 7 shows a different formof the tip of the test n ,device of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of still another form of target arrangement in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the device shown therein includes a rod l which is preferably of spring steel which has at its tip an engaging portion 2 formed in the shape of a hook and having at its other end a threaded portion 3 by means of which a handle 8 may be mounted on the rod 1 and secured with a nut 9. At the front end of handle 8 there is arranged a plate 4 which serves as a hand guard. Plate 4 is formed with slotlike apertures 5 in which the U-shaped resilient target members 6 are mounted.

Figs. 3 and 4 show in greater detail a target element 6, the target element as shown having comparatively short ends 7 and 7' which are bent outwardly, so that target element 6 can be pulled out without the use of great force from the apertures 5 in plate 4.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the target element, wherein target member 10 is formed with a resilient neck portion 12 and leg portions 11 11' bent substantially at right angles so as to prevent the complete removal of the target element from the guard plate 4. In the use of the target device shown in Fig. 5, the initial position of target member 10 is indicated by the dotted lines showing the relative position of plate 4, and during the contest when target member 10 is engaged by the weapon of the opposing contestant, it may be pulled outwardly of guard plate 4 so as to assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

Instead of being of bowed or .U-shaped form, the target elements may be of any other suitable shape. In Fig. 6, there is shown a form of target member which has a ball-shaped or spherical portion 13 resiliently held in a socket 15 formed in the guard plate which resiliently holds the ball 14 attached to spherical portion 13. With the use of such a spherical target, the engaging tip of the rod 1 is advantageously provided with a weight 16, such .as shown in Fig. 7, which may consist of heavy metal andbe screwed onto a threaded portion at the tip of rod 1'. In this way the spherical target 13 may be displaced from its initial position in guard plate 4 or entirely removed therefrom by the impact of the weapon of the opposing contestant.

Another form of the device is shown in Fig. 8, wherein the guard plate may be formed with a recessed portion 17 forming at its rearmost face a socket for receiving the ball 18 for movably mounting a target member 16 having a flat front face. In this form of device, the initial position of target 16 is such that its front face is substantially in the plane of the front surface of the guard plate, and when it is struck by the weapon of the opposing contestant it is displaced rearwardly into the recess 17 so as to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. The shape of recess 17 and of the front portion of target 16 may be of any desired form, such as circular, polygonal, etc. In this form of device, it is preferable that the tip of the opposing weapon be formed in a shape similar to that shown in Fig. 7, rather than being bent as shown in Fig. l. The structure shown in Fig. 8 avoids the possibility of injury to the hand of the contestant holding the weapon in which this target structure is mounted, since the rearward movement of target 16 is limited to a comparatively short distance.

I It is obvious that the various modifications may be made in the parts of the above described device without going beyond the scope of the invention. For example, while the guard plate 4 shown in Fig. l, and as shown in greater detail in Figs. 3 and 5, is of a slightly rounded form at its periphery, it may be made entirely flat, or on the other hand it may be conveXly curved so as to have 'a bell shape. In the use of the described device as a fencing weapon, the target elements may be removed or aces-542 displaced by any suitable action on the part-ofthe contestants. Thus, while the formation of the U-shaped target element 6 is such as to enable the hook-shaped portion 2. of the fencing weapon to Iook the target- 6 through the loop opening formed the y so astopull the same out of the aperture in which it-isjresiliently mounted, it is clear that the same target element could be removed or displaced merely by the impact of'aweapon having either a bent portion 2 or the form of tip shown in Fig. 7.

Further, with respect to the device shown in Fig. 5, the game could be played so that the target it is in an initial position corresponding to "that shown in full lines so that during the'course of the engagement between the opposing contestants the target "lid may be pushed inwardly through the aperture in the guard plate the position shown in dotted lines to indicate a strike by the opponent.

Theabo-ve described arrangements provide a fencing game by means of which the sport of fencing canbe easily taught to a pupil and effectively avoids the risk of injury tothe persons engaginginthe exercise. Purther, the arrangement of the'target elements as described is such as to afford an accurate indication of the skill of the contestants in making thrusts and strikes against their opponents, and when a plurality of targets is used in accordance with the invention, the relative position of the target elements on the respective guard members of the weapons quickly indicates the score which each has made against the other.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful'applic'ation in other typesof game devices differing from the typ'esdescribedabove.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a-fencingdevice, it is not intended to be limited to the details sliown, since various modifications and struc'turalchangesmay lie-made without departing in any way'from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will'so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the'genericorspecific aspects of this inven tion and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and'desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: I

1. A game device comprising, in combination, an elongated memberhaving 'a handle portion at'one end and an engagingpo-rtionat its otherend and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holdingthe same at its handle portion; a plate-shaped guard member mounted on said elongated member between its ends adjacent said handle portion and extendingtransverse thereto; and at least one target member having a substantially rigid attaching portion engaging said guard member for mounting said target member'in a predetermined position adjacent to the front face of said guard member, said target member being movable relative to said guard member away from said predetermined position there-on, whereby the target member may be moved awayfrom said pre determined position uponbeing engaged by the engaging portion of another similar elongated member aimed by an opposing contestant in the direction of said guard member.

2. A game device as defined in claim 1 in which said engaging portion at the' other end of said elongated member is weighted.

3. A game device as defined in claim 1 in which said target member is ball-shaped.

4-. A game device as defined in claim 1 in' which said .guardmemberhas a front surface facing said other end plane of said front surface of saidguard member to a displaced position with its front face spacedlrearwardly of said front surface. 4

5. A game device comprising, iii-combination, an elongated member having a handle portion at one end and an engaging portion at its other end "and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holding the same at its handle portion; a plate-shaped guard member mounted on said elongated member between its ends adjacent said handle portion and extending transverse thereto; and at least one target member having a substantially rigid attaching portion engagingsaid guard member for mounting said target membcr'in a predetermined position adjacent to the front face of said guard member, said target member being movable relative to said-guard member away from said predetermined position to a different position thereon, whereby the target member may be moved away from said predetermined position to said different position upon being engaged by the engaging portion of another similar elongated member aimed by an opposing contestant in the direction of said guard member.

6. A 'game device comprisinglin combination, an elongated member having a handle portion at one end and an engaging portion at its other end and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holdingthe same at its handle portion; aplate-shaped guard member mountedon said elongated member between its ends adjacent said handle portion and extending transverse thereto, said guard member being formed withatleast one aperture;

' and a targetmember having ii -substantially rigid poo tion engaging said guard memberand being mounted in said aperture of said guard member movable relative thereto away from a predetermined position thereon, whereby the target membcr'may be moved away from said predetermined position upon being engaged by the engaging portion of another similarelongated member aimed by an opposing contestant in the direction of said guard member.

7. A game device comprising, in combination, an elongated member having a handle portion at oneend and an engaging portion at its other end and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holding the same at its handle portion; a plate-shaped guard member having opposite surfaces facing the respective ends of said-elongated member and mounted on said'elongatedmeinber between its ends adjacent said-handle portion and extending transverse thereto, saidguard member being formed with at least one aperture; anda target member mounted in said aperture of said guard member movable relative thereto away from a predetermined position thereon projecting from the surface of said guard member facing said other end of said elongated membeig whereby the target member may be moved away from. saidpredetermined position upon being engaged by the engaging portion of another similar elongated-member aimed by an opposing contestant in the direction of said guardmember.

8. A game device comprising, in combination, an elongated member having a handle portion at one end and an engaging portion at its other end and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holding-thesame at its handle portion; a plate-shaped guard member having opposite surfaces facing the respective ends of said elongated member and mounted on'said elongated member between its ends adjacent said handle portion and extending transverse thereto, said guard member being formed with at least one apentureyand a=substantially U-shaped resilient target member having a pair of leg portions passing through said aperture and resiliently engaging said guard member for mounting said target member in said aperture of said guard member movable relative thereto away from a predetermined position thereon projecting from the surface of said guard member facing said other end of said elongated member, whereby the target member may be moved away from said predetermined position upon being engaged by the engaging portion of another similar elongated member aimed by an opposing contestantin the direction of said guard member.

9. A game device comprising, in combination, an elongated member having a handle portion at one end and a hook-shaped engaging portion at its other end and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holding the same at its handle portion; a plate-shaped guard me1nber mounted on. said elongated member between its ends adjacent said handle portion and extending transverse thereto; and at least one substantially U-shaped resilient target member having an inner and an outer arcuate surface mounted on said guard member movable relative thereto away from a predetermined position thereon, whereby the target member may be moved away from said predetermined position upon engagement of said inner or said outer annular surface thereof by the engaging portion of another similar elongated member aimed by an opposing contestant in the direction of said guard member.

10. A game device comprising, in combination, an elongated member having a handle portion at one end and a hook-shaped engaging portion at its other end and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holding the same at its handle portion; a guard member having opposite surfaces facing the respective ends of said elongated member and mounted on said elongated member between its ends adjacent said handle portion and extending transverse thereto, said guard member being formed with at least one aperture; and a substantially U-shaped resilient target member mounted in said aperture of said guard member movable relative thereto away from a predetermined position thereon projecting at its bend portion from the surface of said guard member facing said other end of said elongated member and resiliently held at itsleg portions within the aperture of said guard member, whereby the target member may be moved away from said predetermined position upon being engaged by the engaging portion of another similar elongated member aimed by an opposing contestant in the direction of said guard member.

11. A game device comprising, in combination, an

elongated member having a handle portion at one end and a hook-shaped engaging portion at its other end and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holding the same at its handle portion; a guard member having opposite surfaces facing the respective ends of said elongated member and mounted on said elongated member between its ends adjacent said handle portion and extending transverse thereto, said guard member being formed with at least one aperture; and a substantially U-shaped resilient target member removably mounted in said aperture of said guard member in a predetermined position thereon projecting at its bend portion from the surface of said guard member facing said other end of said elongated member and resiliently held at its leg portions Within the aperture of said guard member, whereby the target member may be removed from said predetermined position upon being engaged by the engaging portion of another similar elongated member aimed by an opposing contestant in the direction of said guard member.

12. A game device comprising, in combination, an elongated member having a handle portion at one end and a hook-shaped engaging portion at its other end and adapted to be manipulated by a contestant holding the same at its handle portion; a guard member having opposite surfaces facing the respective ends of said elongated member and mounted on said elongated member between its ends adjacent said handle portion and extending transverse thereto, said guard member being formed with at least one aperture; and a substantially U-shaped resilient target member mounted in said aperture of said guard member movable relative thereto away from a predetermined position to a different position thereon projecting at its bend portion from the surface of said guard member facing said other end of said elongated member and resiliently held at its leg portions within the aperture of said guard member, whereby the target member may be moved away from said predetermined position to said different position upon being engaged by the engaging portion of another similar elongated member aimed by an opposing contestant in the direction of said guard member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,529,851 Smithson Mar. 17, 1925 2,282,555 Beatty May 15, 1942 2,506,453 Hinkle May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,922 Great Britain 1911 

